First Halloween and now the rainbow flags? Is nothing sacred in the Castro? SFist reports that “preservationists and Castro gays are battling over the rainbow banners” that hang on the light-posts that line the Upper Market and the Castro.

According to the report, the banners are “apparently illegal according to historic preservationists, who say that nothing but temporary banners are allowed to be attached to the poles, which are themselves designated historic structures.” Supporters of the 10-year old banners want to replace them with newer ones but, “efforts to do so are being blocked by the Historic Preservation Commission and the Mission Dolores Neighborhood Association, whose priority is to protect the lampposts.”